The Indonesian government has appealed to the public to not worry about the availability of COVID-19 vaccine stocks, assuring it has secured 440 million doses until the end of 2021.
"Yesterday (July 27, 2021), Indonesia received 21 million doses of Sinovac vaccines in bulk form, which increased the country's COVID-19 vaccine stock to more than 170 million doses in bulk form and finished goods," government spokesperson for COVID-19 handling and behavior change ambassador, Reisa Broto Asmoro, said here on Wednesday.
State-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma has processed a total of 144.7 million vaccines in bulk form into 117 million doses of finished vaccines, she added.
As of Tuesday (July 27, 2021), nearly 64.4 million out of the targeted 208.2 million vaccines have been administered, with at least 45.5 million people, or 21.9 percent of the targeted recipients, receiving their first jab, and 18.9 million receiving their second jab, she informed.
"(For) Creating herd immunity (there) is a long way to go. It is ladies and gentlemen who can shortcut the way. Vaccinate yourself soon. Let us bring families, neighbors, and colleagues to COVID-19 vaccination centers to protect ourselves and our families," she urged.
Asmoro also assured that the government has augmented drug stocks, oxygen supplies, the number of health workers, and beds for COVID-19 patients as a precautionary measure to face a possible wave of COVID-19 cases.
The bed occupancy rate in hospitals has declined, with the number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients falling to 82 thousand from 92 thousand in the past week, she said. (Antaranews)